THE PARISH NEWS

HAYWARD-TRONDHJEM LUTHERAN PARISH

BOX 426, HAYWARD, MN 56043= Dec= ember, 2008 &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; Vol= .13, No. 12

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GOOD NEWS!!

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        &= nbsp;   December is our chance, as the church, to get the jump on the rest of the world, for this is when we begin our NEW YEAR. As we begin this New Year, we focus on some new scripture lessons, a= s we focus on the Gospel of Mark, along with other lessons from both the Old and= New Testaments. Mark is the conde= nsed version of the story of Jesus; it comes at us quickly, ever using that word “immediately.” Ma= rk does not even bother to give us the birth stories of Jesus, leaving that to Matthew and Luke. He starts his story of Jesus with the ADVENT, the coming,= of John the Baptist, who will announce “the way of the Lord.” In quick fashion, Jesus is suddenly there, along the Jordan River, being baptized by John and blessed by God the Father, and then moving on into His public ministry, where He proclaims His preaching theme: “The t= ime is fulfilled, and the Kingdo= m of God has come nea= r; repent, and believe in the good news.”

        &= nbsp;   For the people of Jesus’ day, this TIME that has come is the fulfillment = of Jewish dreams, the TIME when God will show His special love for the Jews by breaking the bonds of their servitude and exalting them among the nations.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> It is the TIME that they have been waiting for – waiting so long that they had almost ceased to believe = that it could ever come to pass. Suddenly, God comes near to them, among them, in the person of Jesus= of Nazareth, God’s Son, Savior, and invites His people to REPENT, to open their hearts and change their minds, and believe that God’s promises = are now being fulfilled right before their eyes. Truly this IS the good news.<= /o:p>

        &= nbsp;   Today, we who claim Jesus as the Christ, our Lord and Savior, as we hear those wor= ds of Jesus, we understand that He is speaking not just to His fellow Jewish people then, but to us now, we who are willing to listen to this good news = here and now. Yet, it is a surpris= ing and extraordinary thing to say – that the Kingdom of God has come near you and that you must believe it. As this Advent season moves on to = the Christmas – Epiphany season, this good news continues to be surprising. Suddenly, out of = the blue, a young girl in Nazareth= gets the news from one of God’s own messengers that SHE has been chos= en by God to become pregnant and deliver into this world the very Son of God, = the Messiah. Who me? Pregnant? Really?<= o:p>

        &= nbsp;   Mary quickly recovers and humbly agrees to her new and chosen role as God’s own servant, and goes on to rejoice in it all. But that shock – that of rec= eiving good, yet unsettling, news – that shock is also something that WE sha= re with Mary. For this message of Jesus is not just glad tidings of hope for a weary, war-torn, terrorized wo= rld; it also is a calling, an invitation to turn from all our worldly preoccupat= ions and REPENT, open our hearts and change our minds. Something FROM us, then, is requir= ed. And the ADVENT scripture lessons g= o on to tell us what that is: we need to step it up, get to work, prepare, watch, wait, turn, open, and change.

        &= nbsp;   The NEW YEAR begins once again with these words and urgings for our new and continuing journey through the coming months; that TIME, that ADVENT has co= me once again. This ADVENT seaso= n is a time of joy and expectation. = It is a time of HOPE amid our various world crises, it is LIGHT come into our self-created darkness, it is a time of EXPECTATION for One who will, once again, come among us and deliv= er us, and it is a time of TRUST in the sure and certain promises of God. God IS among us and God has NOT abandoned us.= Yes, the Kingdom of God is among us,= with us, embracing us. That is GOOD NEWS, and it reminds us that we, the faithful, have a way at looking at this troubled world in a GOOD NEWS way that, to the non-believing world, looks rather odd and senseless. The= se days the world can only say, “Look around you. Look at this mess we’re in, = the economic mess, the natural disasters mess, the war, violence and terrorist = mess, the global-warming mess. It&#= 8217;s all a big mess! Where’s= the good news in any of this?”

        &= nbsp;   But into this human, self-centered, greed-induced mess, comes Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior, and announces to this whole, messed up world, “The Kingdom of God has come near to you; REPENT, and believe in this good news.” The angel o= f the Lord comes to that young girl, Mary and proclaims “Do not be afraid!” A nervous moth= er listens to God’s Word and to the hopes that it engenders in her heart= . A prophet stirs people to action, encouraging their expectation of a coming age of justice and peace. WAKE UP PEOPLE! The NEWS will be good, even if, li= ke the people of Jesus’ day, we have almost ceased to believe that it could = ever come to pass. Take heart; be of good courage, for the Lord has come near to us. Dare to believe in this h= ope of the gospel, and dare to share it with others. As we have just heard from our Lor= d on the Day of Christ the King, continue to bring that good news of salvation a= nd hope to others by feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing= the naked, visiting the lonely, imprisoned and oppressed, caring for the sick a= nd lame, and welcoming the stranger.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive its King;

Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room

And heav’n and nature sing.

No more let sin and sorrow grow

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness

And wonders of His love.

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Pastor Malm

A NEW LUTHERAN STUDY BIBLE IS AVAILABLE

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        &= nbsp;   Early in 2009, Augsburg Fortress will be publishing a Lutheran Study Bible. This is timed to coincide with our= ELCA emphasis on Bible Book of Faith. The biblical text will be the New Revised Standard Version, and will feature introductions, notes and articles on the biblical books and texts t= hat are written by over sixty Lutheran pastors and teaching theologians. This can be a valuable resource fo= r you to experience the Bible and its message through solid background material, unique Lutheran insights, and opportunities for faith reflection. This is a Bible that is reader-fri= endly, inviting, and engaging; a study Bible for both youth and adults who want to= encounter Scripture in a fresh, new way.

        &= nbsp;   During December, we have an opportunity to order this new Study Bible for a significant discount if we can order ten or more copies. At the discount, a hard cover vers= ion of this Bible will sell for $22.75 each (10 copies or more). A paperback version will sell for = $17.50 (ten copies or more). If you = are interested, please let Pastor Malm know, or contact the church office (373-= 8479) on or before Christmas Day, December 25^th.

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OPPORTUNIT= IES FOR

HOLY COMMU= NION

December 7^th – Advent II

December 24^th – Christmas Eve

December 25^th – Christmas Day

December 28^th – Christmas I

“CANDLES AND CAROLS” TO BE PRESENTED

Come and join us On Christmas Eve, December 24^th for a service of hope, peace, joy, and love, entitled “Candles & Carols”. It will be presented by the jo= int HLC/TLC Choir.

This is a cantata with narrat= ion and choir anthems. The congregation will join the choir singing familiar Christmas carols.

CONFIRMATION CLASSES =

        &= nbsp;   Confirmation classes in December and= January will be at Oakland Lutheran and February at Trondhjem Lutheran.&nbs= p; In March there w= ill be no classes since it is Lent. In April the classes will be at Oakland Lutheran.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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The “Big Trip”! The ELCA Youth Gathe= ring next July. Where else than historical New Orleans! 9^th through 12^{th
graders are invited, but you must sign up ASAP, because there is only room =
in
the van for 9 students and 2 adults.
The cost for the convention, transportation and housing will be about
$600, BUT as other youth trips, the students pay only half. So, your cost will be $300 plus mo=
ney
for meals and souvenirs.}

Confirmation Christmas Carolin= g for the home bound

Imax and Science Museum in St. Paul

PARISH TO = HAVE MEN’S ADVENT BREAKFASTS

            You are invited to parish Men’s Advent Breakfasts held on Tuesday mornings at 7 a.m.= from December 2^nd throu= gh December 23^rd. A breakfast of pancakes or French toast or some other warm and tasty goodies = will be served. Following the brea= kfast there will be a short devotional before you head off to work or whatever you have planned for the day. Com= e and join the fellowship!! Bring a friend or neighbor!!

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DECEMBER ASSIGNMENT= S

&nb= sp;          = Altar Guild       &nb= sp;            =                   &= nbsp;   Coff= ee Servers   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;        Comm= union Assistants

      &= nbsp;     Linda Kraushaar     &nbs= p;       December 2       Sunday School      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;       Steve & Linda Kraushaar

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   December 14     Emil &= ; Bev Prantner

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      &= nbsp;             &= nbsp;   Lectors            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           Acolyte/Ushers

      &= nbsp;     December 7       Linda Kraushaar     &nbs= p;       December 7       Madalyn Wangen

      &= nbsp;     December 14     Steve Kra= ushaar        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;   December 14     Cortney Thostenson & Allison Wangen

      &= nbsp;     December 21     Jill Krau= se        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            December 21     Anna Seve= rtson

      &= nbsp;     December 25     Elaine Lu= kes        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;        December 25     Ethan Sev= ertson

      &= nbsp;     December 28     Pastor Ma= lm        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         December 28     Reed Thos= tenson

       DE= CEMBER BIRTHDAYS     =

      &= nbsp;     December 19       = ;          Cindy Severtson     &nbs= p;       December 5       =             D= ean & Charlotte Lukes

      &= nbsp;     December 20       = ;          Andrew Reese      &n= bsp;            = ;        December 13       = ;          Dick & Shirley Kraushaar

      &= nbsp;     December 20       = ;          Tracy Jahnke

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MEMORIALS

GENERAL FUND

In memory of CAROL MORGAN by Sue Ball<= /span>

In memory of OBERT HALDORSON by M/M Don Chapek, M= /M Sheldon Lukes, M/M Nordune Haldorson, M/M Keith Eastman, M/M Emerson J. Yes= s, M/M B. E. Haldorson, M/M Don Flatness, M/M Jerry Schewe, M/M Tim Struck, Li= la Esse, M/M Douglas Riskedahl, M/M Vernon Nordaune, M/M David Prantner, Mr. Julius Hansen, Ronald Burkhow, David Hernes, M/M Clayton Kearns<= /span>

In memory of KENNETH MUDRO by M/M Roger Krause, B= arb Prantner, M/M Emil Prantner

ALTAR GUILD

In memory of OBERT HALDORSON by M/M Richard Kraus= haar

ORGAN FUND

In memory of OBERT HALDORSON by Barb Prantner

TRONDHJEM WELCA MAK= ES MANY QUILTS

The Trondhjem WELCA met every Thursday morning a= t 9 a.m. for nine weeks to tie quilts.   They tied 84 qu= ilts and 10 baby quilts in that time. Some of the women work all year round making the tops for the quilts. Some of the quilts ar= e given to Nursery Crisis Center in Albert Lea & Austin, Salvation Army in Albert Lea &= Austin, Red Cross, Albert Lea<= /st1:City> & Austin, Blind and Deaf in Faribault, and som= e are saved for needs that may arise in the area, and the rest are sent to World Relief= .

MARK YOUR CALENDARS …..

FOR THE TRONDHJEM FAMILY CHRISTMAS DINNER AND SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM!!

On Saturday, December 13^=
th

12 Noon – Pot Luck Meal

Those Trondhjem Ladies know h= ow to put on a pot luck meal!!!

Christmas Program to follow t= he meal

The Trondhjem Christmas Progr= am is always a “HIT”

Directed by Linda Kraushaar

Always fun for young and “not-so-young”